Read Ezra 5-6 at Bible Gateway.
Yesterday we saw, in Zec 13-14, that opposition, tests, trials, and challenges must rise up in the way of the people of God, because it is in being challenged, that we prove our loyalty to the LORD God, Creator of heaven and earth. Silver can only be refined by fire and under heat.
So the builders of the temple were challenged in their building. The challengers had succeeded once before in getting the building to cease. When the challenge first came, I am sure it was tempting for the builders to fear, that this time also, the challengers would succeed in getting the building to cease. But they continued to build while an inquiry was sent to the king.
But what Satan meant for evil, God was able to turn it to bless His people. Darius not only confirmed Cyrus’ original decree, but provided for the building and the sacrifices from his own taxes that were collected in that region. The cost of the building was no longer coming from the pockets of the Jews.
The motive of the governor, in bringing the complaint in the first place, might have been to cause the building to cease. But the outcome of his complaint was that HE ended up providing for the building, and protecting the builders from any further interference.
So we do not need to fear whatever opposition arises. God is on His throne and nothing that happens to us takes Him by surprise. We can go a step further and rejoice in our trials, because through them God can increase blessing, provision and protection to us!
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? Rom 8:31-34
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